Device for measuring energy input to raising rollers of textile raising machines



Sept. 12, 1961 J. M. MAGARSHACK ET AL 2,999,294

DEVICE FOR MEASURING ENERGY INPUT TO RAISING ROLLERS OF TEXTILE RAISING MACHINES 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 28, 1959 //W[A/ 70 415.- J0/l/V MART/1V MAE/IRMA CK Md fDWAPD M055 A #0 rncy Sept. 12, 1961 J. M. MAGARSHACK ETAL 2,999,294

DEVICE FOR MEASURING ENERGY INPUT TO RAISING ROLLERS OF TEXTILE RAISING MACHINES Filed April 28, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 JO/f/V MART/N MAGAAJl/ACK m1 EDWARD MOSS 2,999,294 AISING Sept. 12, 1961 MAGARSHACK ETAL DEVICE FOR MEASURING ENERGYINPUT TO R ROLLERS OF TEXTILE RAISING MACHINES Filed April 28, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 imwi Q: uuiumm t w w mt l/VVE/V TOPS M v M 6% M A ND n% M M mE J United States Patent DEVICE FOR MEASURING ENERGY INPUT TO RAISING ROLLERS OF TEXTILE RAISING MA- CHINES John M. Magarshack, Heaton Moor, Stoclrport, and Edward Moss, Didsbury, Manchester, England, assignors to The British Cotton Industry Research Association, Didsbury, England, a British association of Shirley Institute Filed Apr. 28, 1959, Ser. No. 889,553 4 Claims. (Cl. 26-33) This invention concerns nap raising machines as used in the textile industry. It is concerned particularly with rotary nap raising machines and especially (though not exclusively) rotary nap raising machines of the double action type.

Rotary'nap raising machines generally consist basically of a large cylinder fitted with end plates or rings, a number, usually from eighteen to thirty six, of raising rollers journalled between the end plates so as to lie parallel to and above the surface of the cylinder, the rollers being fitted with card clothing, means for passing the fabric to be raised over the raising rollers, means for driving the cylinder, and variable speed means for driving the raising rollers. In double action machines the teeth of the card clothing point in one direction on one series of alternate raising rollers, and in the opposite direction on the other series of alternate rollers, and there are independent variable speed drive means for each series.

In operation the cylinder normally rotates in the samedirection as the cloth travels (but can rotatae in the opposite direction) and carries the raising rollers with it. The raising rollers also rotate on their axes, the direc tion of movement of their peripheries relative to the direction of travel of the cloth depending on whether they are raising or felting. The card clothing on the raising,

rollers effects the raising, the rollers having the teeth of their card clothing pointing in the direction of the cloth movement being known as the pile rollers, and the rollers with the teeth of the card clothing pointing in the opposite direction being known as the counter pile rollers.

Two main factors control the amount of raise per run on a particular raising machine, and these are firstly, the cloth speed and, secondly, the raising action. The raising action depends on the relative speeds of the cloth and the card clothing on the raising rollers. A change in cloth speed will therefore, alter the action for given roller speeds. Since in most machines the gear boxes used to alter the roller speeds are not linear and the drives to the raising rollers are not fully positive, it is not possible accurately to relate the raising action settings (i.e. the speeds of the raising rollers) to raising action at different cloth speeds, or even at the same cloth speed when there is slip in the gear boxes and drives. It is possible, of course, for example, by means of differential drives, to arrange for automatic alteration of the action settings to compensate for a change in cloth speed, and also to provide a fully positive drive to the raising rollers. Even when such measures are taken, there is no direct indication of the raising action, for example in the double action machine of the pile and of the counter-pile rollers, or of whether these actions are balanced as they should be for balanced raising. Similar considerations apply to single action machines although there is here no question of the balancing of two opposite actions.

The factors just referred to make it necessary for the operator of a rotary nap raising machine of known type,

especially such a machine having both pile and counterpile rollers, to have considerable experience and skill before he can practice satisfactory results.

The objects of the present invention is to provide 2,999,294 Patented Sept. 12, 1961 means whereby an indication of the amount of raising action being applied by any particular raising roller or rollers irrespective of the particular details of the machine construction, can be obtained.

The invention is based upon the appreciation of the fact that the raising action of one or more rollers depends directly on the energy input to the roller or rollers. According to the present invention therefore, a nap raising machine has means for indicating the energy input to one or more sets of rollers. In practicing the invention the operator will know what raising effect will be obtained at a given energy input and he will adjust his drive means accordingly. He will also, where more than one set of raising rollers are used, be able to control the relationship between their respective raising actions.

The invention will now be described further, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic end view of a raising machine;

FIG. 2 is an elevation, partly in section of one end of a roller and its associated parts on at raising machine, means being provided whereby an indication of the energy input to the roller may be had according to the invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional end elevation on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 4 4 4, and 4 are diagrams illustrating one electrical circuit; and

FIGS. 5*, 5'", 5, and 5 are similar diagrams illustrating an alternative electrical circuit.

Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated diagrammatically in end view a raising machine of conventional type showing the main elements which comprises a cylinder 10, and raising rollers 11 jonrnalled in end rings thereof. Cloth C passes over the raising rollers 11 in contact therewith. Details of the drive are omitted in the figure which is intended only to illustrate the general arrangement of the working parts and the cloth movement in relation thereto. As previously mentioned the cylinder may be rotated in either direction.

In the machine being described there are both a series of pile and a series of counter-pile rollers and one roller of each series is provided with dynamometer means for indicating the energy input. The subsequent description will be of one side of the machine and will relate to a roller of one series for which such means is provided. It will be understood that a similar arrangement will be provided at the other side of the machine in respect to the roller of the other series for which such means is provided.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 the end of the roller 11 carries, adjacent one of the cylinder rings 12. in which it is journalled, a loose pulley 13 and two switch means in the form of commutators 14, 15. The commutators 14, 15 are disposed between the loose pulley 13 and the cylinder ring 12, the one commutator l5 nearer the cylinder ring 12 being keyed to the roller .11 for rotation therewith and the other commutator 14 being secured by screws 16 (one only of which is seen in the figures) to the loose pulley 13 for rotation with that pulley. Suitable anti-friction bearings are provided for the parts which rotate with respect to the roller 11. The loose pulley has V-grooves and clamp plates 17, on a belt wheel 28, are provided for gripping in well-known manner the V-belts 20a, which transmit the drive in an adequately positive manner thereto and to the driving pulleys of the other rollers. to the roller *11 from the pulley 13 through a leaf spring 18 of suitable stiffness held securely by clamp 19 on the roller 11 in a radial position relative to the latter.

The drive is further transmitted 3 Further, brackets 21, 22 extend from the side of the pulley 13 and a pair of grub screws 23, 24- are used to secure the outer end of the leaf spring 18 as illustrated more ..clearly in FIG. 3. Brackets 21a, 22a are secured to the pulley, for balancing purposes.

A brush 125] is mounted so as tocontact the periphery of the commutator 14 and another brush26- is likewise mounted with respect to commutator For mounting purposes spring steel clips l7, 2% are used, these being firmly secured to the cylinder ringlz and insulated from the brushes. Leads 256: and 25a connect the brushes 25, 26 to slip-rings (not shown) on the ring l2 whereby the. brushes may be connectedrin, an electrical circuit as will. later bedcscribedIv It will be clear that in operation, the deflectionofthe leaf. springv 18,. will beproportional to the torque being transmitted by the. pulley 13 to the roller 11. Likewise there willv be. a rotational. movement of the pulley 13 with respect to' the roller 11, and thus between the two commutators, the magnitude of which, relative to a datum, will also be. proportional'to, the torque trans mitted from pulley to roller.

It has been found convenient. to use commercially available commutators 14, 15, each having for example, forty eight segments, and to connect every third segment together.v The interconnected segments of one commutae tor,.as described later, are connected. to the interconnected segments-ofv the other, and. the connection may be through the roller 11, or through a flexible lead.

If now-the commutators 14, 15and. their brushes 25,

26 are connected through the slip-rings to asource of.

electric power and a meter in a suitable manner, the meter will indicate the torque applied to the roller by the pulley.

The circuit will be designed so that the indication is given in the manner now described. If an electric potential is applied across'the connected segments of each commutator and its\ brush, a current will pass which has a square wave. characteristic. By suitably synchronising the commutators at a transmitted torque just sutfi cient to overcome thefrictional losses of the wholesystern andby arranging the circuit in any one of a number ofalternative ways, a resultant current having a square wave. characteristic of minimum mark-to-space ratio is obtained. Transmission of increased' torque to deal with the .raising. load. will cause a relative angular deflection of the two commutators, andwith a suitable leaf spring,

between pulley and shaft thiswill cause a change in the mark-to-spaceratio, and therefore/in the mean current, over the whole working range, such', change being proportional to the raising torque. matter. to arrange forthe torque value to be read 01f on a calibrated meter of suitably slow response.

In one suitable circuit (FIG. 4 the. two sets of connected segments A, B are connected in series. Be: tween the two brushes are connected, also in. series, a battery V, a limitingresistance R and the meter M.

The relative position of the brushes with respect to their commutators is adjusted so that when there is no angular displacement between the driving and driven members, B switches on as A switches off, as shownin the brush timing diagram (FIG. 4

switches off and a square-wave current pulse flows through the meter (FIGS, 4 and 4 In the undeflected condition B switches on before A switches, on again, This is necessaryv in order to avoid current fiowingfor negative deflections if there is some vibration in the drive that is not transmitted by the spring. This overlappingofl? region must be of an amount. not less than the amplitude of the-vibration, The number of segments per ring, which must be sufficiently largeso that the switching frequency is much greater. than the natural frequency of the meter, ,is;restn'cted by the vibration present.

It is a straightforward When there is. some relativev displacement B switches on before A Dependingon the speedof theshaft-andzthet 4 maximum torque applied to it therefore, the minimum spring strength can be determined for the maximum angular deflection, consistent with a reasonable number of segments. The conducting segments of one commutator are connected to those of the other and are either connectedto earth through the machinery or the. C0111" mutators are joined by means of a lead which is-suificiently flexible for it to exert no restraining forcelonz-the spring. In the latter case no-currentneedrgo throughithe mechanical parts;

In another circuittFIG. 5 'themeter M is connected to one of the brushes, and that brush, its commutator and the meter are connected in parallel both with the other commutator and its brush, and also with a battery V and limiting resistance R, the commutator part of thecircuit being earthed. In thiscircuit the two. brushes can if desired, be. replaced." by a single; brushsintcontact with both cornrnutators. Fig.5 is the no.-deflection tim-v ing diagram, while FIGS. 5 and 5 show: a deflection timing diagram and the current pulses respectively Othercircuits are possible and we do. not limit ourselves to the two examples just described;

We have foundthat satisfactory results are obtained by. taking a reading: from only one of the pile' rollers, and one: of' the counter-pile rollers, but: dynamometers maybe fitted to more than one rollerof aseries-if' desired.

By the arrangement just described it ispossible to obtain aquantitative indication of the raising action.what-' ever the cloth speed, and also-to obtain: balance be tween the actions of the pile-and counter-pilerollers.-

In operation the meter reading of theraising action will be set to a required valuewhich willhave been previously determined for each type of cloth,- butjwill' beobtainablewithout reference to roller or cloth speeds. The operator will be able to raise in or outof balance, or vary the action while raising, in a far'more controlled manner than is at present possible. Also he will be abletochange the cloth speed or the tensionwhile'rnaintaining the same raising action byv keeping the same meter readings.

The operation of the dynamometer' arrangement will be as indicated irrespective of-the machine characteristics, that is-to say, for example, whether the drivesto theraisingrollersare positive'or not.

The invention is not limited to thedetails of the particular embodiment just described since any-convenient dynamometer arrangement .maybe used instead of theone particularly described hereinbefore.

' Although we have. described in our preferred ernbodimenu-of the invention,- the provision of-a dynamorneter atthe endof the raising roller, it'will be-appreciated that the energy measurement can be taken anywhere in' thedrive: However, the-more remote the dynamometer" from the roller, themoredesirable it is-to-- calibrate theindicatinginstrument to allow forpower losses-inthe l'aterpartofthe drive.

We'claim:

1. In a nap raising machine, a series of'nap; raising rollers, a dynamometer associated with'one'of's'aid series of rollersat one end of the latter, said 'dynamometer comprising a. drive transmission which includes a driving pulley and deflectable means interposed between said; pulley-andsaid roller, said deflectable-means beingsubject to a deflection=whose magnitude is in; direct'proportion-tothe. energy; being transmitted" to the roller, and meanslfor: indicating the magnitude 'of said deflection.

2'. In .anapraising machine, the elements defined in claim 1, in which said indicating means comprisesra' first switch" having a rotary switch member-monntedfor movement with, said pulley, a second switchhaving a rotary. switch member mounted for movement with said roller, whereby, the .mutual angular .di'splacementgofjsaid'z switch .mernberfrom a'given, datum. isproportionah'to said deflection, an electric circuit responsive to the action of said switches, and a meter in said circuit.

3. In a nap raising machine, the elements defined in claim 1, in which said indicating means comprises a first switch having a rotary switch member mounted for movement with said pulley, a second switch having a rotary switch member mounted for movement with said roller, whereby the mutual angular displacement of said switch members from a given datum is proportional to said deflect-ion, each switch member being a commutator and each switch including a fixed brush engaging said commutator, an electric circuit responsive to the action of said switches, and a meter in said circuit.

4. In a nap raising machine, the elements defined in claim 1, in which said indicating means comprises a first switch having a fixed brush and a commutator mounted for movement with said pulley, a second switch having a fixed brush and a commutator mounted for movement with said roller, whereby the mutual angular displacement of said commutators from a given datum is proportional to said deflection, an electric circuit rerespective commutator segments in a sequential pattern which produces no meter reading.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,228,032 MacGregor et a1. Jan. 7, 1941 2,739,366 Dourdeville Mar. 27, 1956 2,857,649 Scholaert Oct. 28-, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 401,895 Germany Sept. 9, 1924 640,238 Great Britain July 12, 1950 787,028 Great Britain Nov. 27, 1957 

